Sabrina Carpenter released her newest album, Short n’ Sweet in August, after catapulting into A-List fame this year. After her outros for her song Nonsense went viral, the artist who’s been in the industry since she’s been a teenager, went fully mainstream. She has 6 studio albums including Short n’ Sweet, her earliest one being released nearly 10 years ago. She’s said that this newest one feels like her sophomore album. This is probably because the albums before her 5th one haven’t been as commercially acclaimed or successful as her newest.
The sound of this newest album is fun, bubbly, flirty, smart, and just truly peak Pop (with a little Country twang in some songs). Her two singles for this album went absolutely massive and left Pop lovers feining for more.
I am not a music expert or anything like that, I just love music and consume it all the time everyday. If you disagree with my opinions that’s obviously fine! Now, this is my review!
Track 1: Taste – music video
The first track on the album is Sabrina talking to the woman Sabrina’s ex went back to right after leaving her. The whole message of the song is that they got back together so quickly that this new woman still can taste Sabrina on his lips. Obviously that’s not how things work, but it’s a cheeky way to get back at both of them in her head. The instrumental is very catchy with a little electric guitar as the beginning riff. The writing is smart and funny if a little oddly placed within the music. Another cute addition to the song is that the title of the album is alluded to in the first line of the song: “ I leave quite an impression, five feet to be exact.” aka she’s short. 7/10.
Track 2: Please Please Please – music video
This song is about Sabrina’s new love interest who she’s worried will do something stupid and embarrass her. The harmonies are beautiful and her voice really shines in this song. Like most of her songs, there are many cute funny one liners. My one qualm with the song is the break in the middle of the chorus where everything gets quiet and there’s only the guitar, and then her voice comes back super strong with a bunch of harmonies. I feel like it’s a little weird, abrasive and awkward. 6.5/10.
Track 3: Good Graces
This song reminds me of 2010s pop, ala Ariana Grande’s Be My Baby. A sassy bop with a catchy chorus. Not her most creative on the album though. 6/10.
Track 4: Sharpest Tool
This has the most emotional vocals so far on the album. It sounds raw and I really like the crescendo into the chorus. This song is about a relationship being ruined by not communicating. I like this song because I relate to being upset but not wanting to talk about it because you don’t want to be too much or make things too serious. 7.5/10
Track 5: Coincidence
This is probably my favorite song on the album. It’s a fun folky guitar based song. I love the ad libs and the guitar coming in and out of the song is so satisfying. This song is about what a “coincidence” that her ex went back to his ex right after they broke up. It reminds me of girl i’ve always been by Olivia Rodrigo, which is another pop-folk banger. 9/10
Track 6: Bed Chem
This is the MOST fun, MOST flirty song on the album and I absolutely love it. It’s so catchy and singable. It’s imagining her and the guy she’s talking to having really good bed chemistry together. There’s nothing else to say except I just love it. 8.5/10
Track 7: Espresso – music video
This is the leading single for the album and it got insanely popular. Most people would agree that it was the song of the summer. I also absolutely love this song. It’s so fun and catchy. The guitar riff is so good. 9/10
Track 8: Dumb and Poetic
The thing I like most about this song is the crescendo of her voice getting louder as the intensity of the lyrics are building right until the chorus/hook. It’s also funny how stupid she thinks this man is. 8/10.
Track 9: Slim Pickins
I’ve been very into country lately so I loved this. If you don’t like country, you won’t like this. It’s a fun song based on a fun catch phrase. It’s about all of her potential romantic partners sucking. This is my second favorite song on the album. Her voice is gorgeous in this song as well. 9/10
Track 10: Juno
This is a fan favorite on the album, but isnt my personal favorite. It’s kinda weak and forced for me personally. If it comes on I’ll definitely bop around but it’s not my favorite. Also the whole play on words in the song is saying this guy could get her pregnant like Juno in the movie Juno. That weirds me out a little because Juno in the movie is a teenager going through teen pregnancy. It’s a fine song. 5/10
Track 11: Lie To Girls
This is my least favorite song on the album. I like the sentiment of the lyrics and the title, but I just feel it’s kind of weak in comparison to the rest of the songs. The harmonizations are pretty but the background instrumental is kinda weird and quiet but then some bass comes in and i’m thrown off. 3/10
Track 12: Don’t Smile
This feels a bit R&B and I like it. It’s chill and a nice way to end the album. Lyrically it’s playing on the album being over, but it’s actually about a relationship being over and her wanting her ex to miss her and not be happy. 7/10
Highest Score Potential: 120
Added Score: 85.5
Official Score: 90/120
